Pompeo asserts importance of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan

U.S. Secretary of State-designate Mike Pompeo

Washington, April 12 (CNA) U.S. Secretary of State-designate Mike Pompeo asserted Thursday the importance of Washington's arms sales to Taiwan, which he noted is consistent with its one-China policy.

"I think it's important as much as America has done for quite some time. Frankly, both the administrations, every administration, Republican and Democrat alike, we provide arms sales necessary, consistent with that one-China policy," Pompeo said when answering questions from Republican Senator Cory Gardner during a nomination hearing at the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Pompeo, currently chief of the Central Intelligence Agency, has been nominated by U.S. President Donald Trump to replace Rex Tillerson, who was fired by Trump from the post last month.

As to the Taiwan Travel Act that took effect in March to bolster exchanges of visits by Taiwanese and U.S. officials at all levels, Pompeo gave no answer when Gardner asked him: "What level would you authorize State Department personnel to visit Taiwan?"

"I don't know the answer to that. I'm familiar with the act. I'm familiar with America's one-China policy, the three communiques, and the Six Assurances. And so I know American policy and I know what's there with respect to the level of appropriate authority. I just need to look at that and frankly turn to the professionals at the State Department to give me guidance ...," Pompeo said.